We here in MA can’t vote for Lamont in November, just like we couldn’t vote for him tonight.
But we do have two pretty powerful Senators. We can, and we should, encourage them to make it clear to Joe Lieberman that he needs to bow out of this race. The Democratic voters of Connecticut spoke loudly tonight. The Democratic party in Washington should listen.
Talk to Ted Kennedy: official site, campaign site.
Talk to John Kerry: official site, campaign site.
Please share widely!
of having Reid strip him of committee assignments.
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Of course, the danger of all of this is that Lieberman wins and doesn’t remain an “Independant Democrat” and instead becomes an “Independant GOP-suck up”.
While I think the more honorable route would have been to drop out of the Democratic primary as soon as he started running as an independent, but I think he has every right as every eligible citizen does to run independently. I don’t expect to see many prominent Democrats supporting, but I’d like to think that party bossism doesn’t win. There are all sorts of caveats to this argument because of the situation, but I think the whole population of Connecticut should decide (though I bet Joe’s wishing they IRV now). I was glad to hear Lamont refer to himself as a TR Progressive, which reminded me that Teddy Roosevelt wouldn’t have joined the Progressive Party if he hadn’t lost the Republican primary. Even though I want Lamont to win, I support Lieberman’s decision.
is that before today, he was a Democrat. Hell, he still considers himself a Democrat. That’s all well and good, but what about party infrastructure? Committee positions?
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He has every right to run as an indy, but in doing so he’s choosing to no longer be a Democrat. His Democratic family wants him to stay — and that means not running as an indy.
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Lieberman’s choice, but it comes with severe consequences.